In the 102-year history of the National Hockey League, 348 individuals have played 1,000 or more regular season games. 44 of them, or 12.6%, have played some part of their career with the Atlanta or Calgary Flames. We call these players Long-Timers.
Let’s take a look at John Tonelli.
A product of Milton, Ontaro, Tonelli was a standout junior player with the Toronto Marlboros. He was signed as an 18-year-old by the WHA’s Houston Aeros – the NHL Draft was for 20-year-olds back then – and played three seasons for them. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1977 NHL Draft and the Islanders claimed his rights when the Aeros folded in 1978.